UPDATE: Put new port of entry in U.S.: Kilger

Cornwall's mayor is still advocating that a new Canadian port of entry be placed in the U.S., despite the fact that talks on the subject appear to have gone silent.

Bob Kilger, in an interview Friday, said the preference from a municipal point of view would be to remove the existing interim port of entry from within city limits. It's located at the base of the Seaway International Bridge on Brookdale Avenue.

The ideal location, Kilger added, would be to include the port of entry with the new customs facility that was built by U.S. officials south of the border.

That option, though, presents a slew of logistical and legal hurdles that have yet to be publicly overcome.

"The possibility of placing the port of entry in the U.S. is still the most desirable option," said Kilger, who added talk of putting the port along the canal lands in Cornwall would limit development of that area.

Though the Canada Border Services Agency has remained relatively quiet on the subject, there has been talk that introducing a permanent home for Canada customs on canal lands would tie in nicely with the completion of construction of a new low-level bridge in Cornwall.

Kilger said adding facilities for a port of entry on the canal property makes it difficult to develop adjacent lands for commercial or residential use.

"While it would take a long time to develop it...the canal lands would offer a lot more revenue-generating options," said Kilger. "If the port of entry were placed there...developing it would take a lot longer."

Andre Girard, vice-president of communications with the Federal Bridge Corporation, said in an interview there's no reason why two entities like CBSA and bridge infrastructure can't occupy the same piece of land - in this case the canal property.

But he was quick to point out there's nothing to suggest such a move is imminent.

An e-mail from CBSA was vague on details of just how the process could unfold.

"We are working with the City of Cornwall and Federal Bridge Corporation Limited to assess options for a port of entry facility that accommodates the new low level bridge," ead the e-mail to Seaway News. "The CBSA continues to examine a number of options as a long-term solution to the issue of port entry location."